The GOAT debate involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has been going on for the better part of the last two decades. While many prominent names have already taken their picks, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney recently revealed his choice on an episode of The Overlap.
The Englishman and the Portuguese icon made 205 appearances together between 2004 and 2009 for the Red Devils. Despite being former teammates, Rooney picked the Argentine forward.
When asked to choose between the two by his old teammate and former United full-back Gary Neville, Rooney said:
"Messi. He is the best ever."
The former England national team captain has always been open about his admiration for Lionel Messi. When the eight-time Ballon d'Or joined Major League Soccer club Inter Miami in 2023, Rooney said (via Marca):
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"I think it's an excellent move for MLS, from a commercial standpoint, it's going to be a magnet for attracting interest from different corners of the globe. With Messi, we are welcoming arguably the best player to ever grace the field. His competitive spirit and talent will undoubtedly aid Miami in climbing the ranks."
Wayne Rooney, who played Manchester United for 13 years, is the club's all-time top goalscorer with 253 goals. He was recently appointed the head coach of EFL Championship side Plymouth Argyle.
Toni Kroos explained why Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are difficult to compare
Real Madrid veteran Toni Kroos, who announced his decision to retire following Euro 2024 on May 21, explained why it is difficult to draw a comparison between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The German midfielder, who joined Los Blancos in 2014, played four seasons with Cristiano Ronaldo and against Lionel Messi till 2021.
In an interview with Marca in 2022, Kroos said:
"There is no doubt that Cristiano is one of the best in history. The same happens with Leo Messi. But I don't see one [of them] as better. Because it is difficult to compare who does what on the field and how the game has changed over the decades."
"From my playing days, it's Cristiano Ronaldo [best player of all time]. Of course, I'm biased because he made a decisive contribution to us winning a lot of titles. It was exciting and impressive to play alongside Ronaldo," added the 34-year-old.
Having already won four La Ligas and four UEFA Champions League, Kroos has a chance to lift his fifth UEFA Champions League trophy for the club as Los Blancos face Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 1. This would also be his last match in the Real Madrid jersey.
